Chapter 306: True Mastery.
For a moment, Pete and Denis were too stunned to react.
By the time they recovered, Adelyn had already disappeared through the exit.
Denis pointed toward the doorway and growled,
"How dare she?"
Pete’s expression darkened as well.
"She looked down on our Senior." His brows knitted tightly. "Who does she think she is? Every move she used was nothing more than foundational swordsmanship. She only won because of sheer luck, yet she acts as though she’s unmatched."
To them, Steve wasn’t merely a senior from the same academy. He was also someone who had personally guided them for years.
The respect they held for him was no different from the respect they showed their own master.
So hearing Adelyn speak so casually about him ...
To them, it was nothing short of an insult.
Naturally, they were furious.
Yet in their anger, they overlooked the most crucial point.
Adelyn had indeed relied solely on foundational techniques to take down Tressa earlier.
But defeating an experienced swordswoman using nothing but the fundamentals wasn’t something luck alone could accomplish.
That, more than anything else, demonstrated true mastery —something that was rare.
Unfortunately, both Pete and Denis were too consumed by their own assumptions to notice it.
Instead, they blamed everything on Tressa’s incompetence.
Steve’s expression gradually stiffened.
His fingers slowly curled into fists as he continued staring toward the exit through which Adelyn had left.
Zeke silently observed everyone. After glancing at Pete and Denis, his gaze shifted toward Steve. And almost immediately, a plan surfaced in his mind.
"That woman has gone too far," he said indignantly. "Who does she think Mr. Orlow is?"
"How dare she look down on Talon?"
He deliberately raised his voice.
"Your academy is famous for nurturing outstanding talents, yet in her arrogance, she didn’t hesitate to insult it."
His eyes narrowed.
"We can’t just let her walk away like this."
Pete’s and Denis’s expressions immediately grew even colder.
Although neither of them particularly liked Zeke, he wasn’t wrong when he said that.
The woman had openly humiliated both Steve and Talon. She deserved to face the consequences.
Seeing the change in their expressions, Zeke knew he had struck the right chord. Without wasting another second, he continued,
"How about we challenge her again?" His lips slowly curved into a smile.
"This time ..."
He looked directly at Steve.
"Let Mr. Orlow fight her personally. I’m sure she’ll finally understand where she belongs."
Before Pete or Denis could even respond—
Steve’s deep, authoritative voice interrupted him.
"That’s enough." His tone wasn’t loud. Yet it instantly silenced everyone.
He looked directly at Zeke.
"We owed you one favor. We’ve already repaid it." His expression remained indifferent.
"So don’t drag us into your petty games any further."
Zeke frowned.
"Mr. Orlow, you’ve misunderstood." He forced an awkward smile. "Aren’t we friends? I was only—"
"We’re not friends."
Steve cut him off without the slightest hesitation. "Everything ends here."
He turned around.
"We’re leaving."
Then, without waiting for another reply, he calmly walked away.
Denis and Pete exchanged glances before silently following behind him.
Watching the three of them leave, Zeke’s expression gradually darkened. He couldn’t accept it.
"Don’t you want to get back at her?"
His voice echoed through the arena.
Steve’s footsteps paused. For a brief moment, silence lingered.
Yet ...
He never turned around.
After standing there for only a second, he calmly resumed walking away.
Of course, he wanted another chance to face that woman. But he also believed, there would be another opportunity in the future.
Seeing them disappear completely, Zeke finally lost his composure.
His fists slammed together.
"Damn it!"
He had thought today would finally be the day Karl Warren was humiliated beyond recovery. And he had almost succeeded.
Almost.
Then ...
That woman had appeared out of nowhere and ruined every single one of his plans.
His jaw tightened.
He wasn’t letting this matter end here.
If he couldn’t settle the humiliation today, then he would settle it another day. No matter what, he would make them pay.
Meanwhile—
Outside the arena ...
Adelyn, Karl, and Pier slowly walked toward the parking area near the university.
After walking for a while, Pier gradually slowed his steps. His brows remained tightly knitted as he kept stealing glances toward Adelyn.
The more he thought about everything that had happened ...
The less he understood it.
Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, he finally spoke.
"Goddess ..."
Adelyn stopped walking and turned toward him.
Karl also looked over.
"What?"
Pier ignored Karl and looked directly at Adelyn.
"How did you really do it?" His voice was filled with genuine confusion. "You defeated Tressa Maggot so effortlessly, and she willingly admitted defeat."
He slowly shook his head.
"That can’t possibly be as simple as it looked."
He hesitated briefly before asking,
"Have you ... been training for years?"
Adelyn’s expression remained completely calm.
Just as Pier expected her to answer—
Karl spoke first.
"What years?"
He looked at Pier as though the question itself was ridiculous.
"Didn’t you hear what Sister-in-law said earlier?"
He folded his arms proudly.
"She only trained for one month because of her upcoming movie."
He shrugged.
"So where are these ’years’ coming from? If she’d really trained for years ..."
He looked at Adelyn before continuing,
"... would she suddenly decide to become an actress now? And besides ..." Karl nodded matter-of-factly.
"My sister-in-law is still so young."
"If she’d spent years practicing swordsmanship..." He frowned thoughtfully. "...wouldn’t she be much older by now?"
Pier stared at him.
He genuinely couldn’t understand Karl’s logic.
How exactly did years of training make someone older than everyone else?
Just as he was about to ask for an explanation—
Karl suddenly turned toward Adelyn.
"Sister-in-law." His eyes sparkled with excitement. "I think you’ve got incredible talent."
He patted his chest proudly.
"Would you like to join my academy?"
Adelyn froze.
"Your academy?"
Karl nodded enthusiastically. "That’s right." His confidence immediately returned.
"I’ll personally train you."
He proudly thumped his chest.
"And don’t worry. I’ll give you the best conditions possible."
His smile widened.
"You are my sister-in-law. You only have to nod, and I’ll arrange everything for you."
Adelyn stared at him for several long seconds.
Then, she smiled.
Even if joining his academy became the very last option left in the world, she still wouldn’t agree.
Keeping that polite smile on her face, she said, "You’ve already caused enough drama today. So stop exhausting yourself any further."
She turned around.
"Let’s head home."
A faint warmth unconsciously appeared in her voice.
"My Baby Eira must be waiting for me."
With that, she calmly continued walking forward.
Karl originally wanted to persuade her a little more. But seeing her leave without giving him a definite answer, he swallowed the rest of his words and hurried after her.
There would be plenty of opportunities later. It didn’t have to be today.
Pier, however, remained where he was.
He quietly watched the two of them walk farther away while absentmindedly scratching the corner of his brow.
He might not understand much, but there was one thing he knew for certain.
One month of ordinary training could never allow someone to defeat a swordswoman with years of real competitive experience.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Goddess..." He muttered quietly to himself. "...seems to be definitely hiding something. Could she really have a secret identity?"